Stingless-bee-predator
Guides
Camponotus atriceps
Tropical Carpenter Ant
Camponotus atriceps is a large carpenter ant species endemic to the Americas, ranging from the southern United States through Central and South America. In the Amazon region, it has been documented attacking colonies of stingless bees (Melipona flavolineata and M. fasciculata), destroying hives and consuming brood when food resources are scarce. The species occupies diverse moist forested habitats from sea level to 2,290 meters elevation. Research in Brazil has demonstrated that empty hive 'trap boxes' can attract these ants, providing a non-chemical control method for managed bee colonies. Workers of this species have been shown to bioaccumulate heavy metals, indicating potential use as environmental contamination indicators.